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ISBN 978-0-626-27467-2
SANS 202:2006
Edition 2

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Chloride content of aggregates

Published by SABS Standards Division

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SANS 202:2006
Edition 2

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 59A, Construction
standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards
Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This standard was published in December 2006. This edition cancels and replaces the first edition
(SABS SM 830:1976).

Reaffirmed and reprinted in July 2012.

This standard will be reviewed every five years
and be reaffirmed, amended, revised or withdrawn.
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SANS 202:2006
Edition 2

Chloride content of aggregates

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method for the determination of the chloride content of aggregates.

NOTE This determination is based on the Volhard method and is sensitive to all halogens.

2 Normative references
The following referenced document is indispensable for the application of this document. All
normative documents are subject to revision and, since any reference to a normative document is
deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that document, parties to agreements based on
this document are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the most recent edition of the
normative document indicated below. Information on currently valid national and international
standards can be obtained from the SABS Standards Division.

SANS 197, Preparation of test samples of aggregates.

3 Apparatus
3.1 Flasks, stoppered flasks of 1 L capacity and of suitable shape.

3.2 Shaker, a rotating mechanical shaker capable of inverting the flasks at the rate of (26 to 30)
times per minute.

3.3 Filter apparatus, fitted with a suitable Buchner funnel and equipped with a suction device.

4 Reagents
4.1 General
Use only distilled or demineralized water, and reagents of reagent grade.

4.2 Standard silver nitrate solution (0,1N)

Dissolve 16,987 g of silver nitrate (AgNO3) in 1 L of water.

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SANS 202:2006
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4.3 Concentrated Nitric acid (HNO3)

Use nitric acid that is free from nitrous acid (HNO2) as this acid yields a reddish-brown colour when
in solution with ammonium thiocyanate and will tend to mask the end point of a titration. Before use,
boil the nitric acid for 10 min and cool it, and always store it in an amber glass container.

4.4 Standard ammonium thiocyanate solution (0,1N)

7,6 g of ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN) dissolved in 1 L of water and standardized against the
silver nitrate solution.

4.5 Indicator
A saturated solution of ammonium iron (III) sulfate (FeNH4(SO4)2 × 12H2O) in water (a 44 % mass
per volume fraction) and to which has been added enough of the nitric acid to yield a solution that is
pale yellow in colour.

4.6 Nitrobenzene

5 Preparation of test specimen

Dry slightly more than 500 g of the test sample (see SANS 197) at a temperature of 75 °C to 80 °C
for at least 16 h and until after two successive 4 h drying periods the decrease in mass does not
exceed 0,1 % of the total mass. Cool the specimen to room temperature in a desiccator.

6 Procedure
NOTE Titration should be carried out at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C as higher temperatures would
result in bleaching of indicator.

6.1 Accurately weigh out 500 g of the test specimen into a flask, add 500 mL of water, and shake
the contents continuously for 1 h.

6.2 Remove the flask from the shaker and allow the insoluble material to settle by allowing the
flask to stand undisturbed for at least 1 h.

6.3 Decant a suitable quantity of the acqueous extract and filter it through a double layer of glass
fibre filter paper of fine texture (Whatman GF/C or equivalent) with, if necessary, the aid of low
vacuum.

6.4 Add 10 mL of the nitric acid to 100 mL of the filtrate in a flask and, by means of a burette, an
excess quantity of the silver nitrate solution (20 mL will normally be sufficient). Add 2 mL to 3 mL of
the nitrobenzene and 1 mL of the indicator.

6.5 Stopper the flask, and shake the contents vigorously to coagulate the precipitated silver
chloride, which will then be covered with a film of nitrobenzene.

6.6 Titrate the excess silver nitrate with the ammonium thiocyanate solution. Towards the end of
titration, add the ammonium thiocyanate solution drop by drop. Shake the contents of the flask
vigorously before adding each drop to release the silver nitrate absorbed by the precipitate.

NOTE The end point of titration is reached when the addition of a drop of the ammonium thiocyanate solution
first causes a permanent reddish-brown colour of the mixture when shaken vigorously.

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SANS 202:2006
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6.7 Conduct a control titration by repeating the procedures as described in 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6 above
but using water instead of the filtrate.

7 Calculation
Calculate the chloride content of aggregates as follows:

Cl− = (B − A)N × 0,035 45

where

Cl− is the chloride content of the aggregate, expressed as a mass fraction percentage;

B is the ammonium thiocyanate solution, in millilitres, used for the control titration;

A is the ammonium thiocyanate solution, in millilitres, used for the titration of the 100 mL
portion of the filtrate;

N is the normality of the ammonium thiocyanate solution.

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